URSA MAJOR

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Russian convoy shadowed during transit of German EEZ

The Russian frigate 'Neustrashimy' has escorted a convoy, consisting of the 'URSA Major' and 'Sparta IV' from its own country in the Baltic Sea for the first time through the Fehmarnbelt and the Kadet Trench on March 21, 2024. These ships are said to be carrying large quantities of weapons and equipment from Syria. The deployment of the frigate to escort the two freighters on the Baltic Sea indicates high-quality weapons and equipment. Both freighters were loaded in a Syrian port in February and were supposed to enter the Black Sea through the Turkish straits. However, in view of the threat from Ukrainian drones, the freighters turned around and instead of taking the shorter route through the Bosphorus, chose the almost 9,000 nautical mile route around Europe into the Baltic Sea. The Russian freighters reached a position north of Skagen on MArch 20, where the 'Neustrashimy' was waiting and formed a convoy with the freighters. Weapons and radar systems were active. The Danish Navy sent a patrol boat and a naval home guard boat to escort the convoy through the Great Belt. At 11 a.m. the Belt Bridge near Korsör was passed. There were no violations. After leaving the Great Belt, the Russian convoy was accompanied at the entrance to the Fehmarnbelt in the afternoon by the mine diving boat “Rottweil” of the 3rd Minesweeper Squadron from Kiel and the two patrol ships “Bamberg” and “Neustadt”, with the “Bamberg” sailing ahead of the convoy and the “Neustadt” and “Rottweil” following behind. They passed through the construction site for the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel at a speed of 12 knots. The Russian ships adhered to traffic regulations. The “Sparta IV” and “URSA Major” belong to a shipping company in Novorossiysk. Both ships were visibly well loaded. On the “Sparta IV” there were numerous containers stacked on the deck. They would be an easy target for Ukrainian drones. Russian freighters do not have to provide any information about their cargo or purpose when transiting through Germany's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Federal Police did not have any reliable information about the cargo of the “Sparta IV” and “URSA Major”. However, the draft of the ships revealed that they were carrying heavy cargo. Both freighters have been on the US and EU sanctions lists since 2022. If they were to suffer an accident in German territorial waters, the federal police would arrest them immediately. Until the evening, the surveillance of the Russian ships went without any particular incidents. The ships were expected to leave the German EEZ around 11 p.m. with the same course. On board the frigate “Neustrashimy” is a helicopter specially equipped to defend against drones. The path of the two ships had been followed for weeks by NATO secret services and naval forces.

Sanctioned Russian ship anchored near Kolkata

The 'Ursa Major' which has been denied berth in Bangladesh finally anchored near Kolkata sea port in pos. 20° 31.09' N 087° 50.35' E on Jan 9, 2023, at 10.50 a.m. UTC. The Russian sihp, which is carrying goods for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, was earlier sent back as the vessel is under US sanctions over the Ukraine war. The vessel changed its name as 'Ursa Major' when it sailed for Chittagong port on Nov 14, 2022, and reached the Bay of Bengal in the third week of 24. Before its arrival, the United States had told Dhaka that the original name of the ship is 'Sparta 3', which was sanctioned by the US. This ship was renamed and registered as 'Ursa Major' later to skip the sanction. It was now up to the Russians how they would send the equipment of the RNPP. The Russians have planned to send the equipment for the RNPP by road from Kolkata. Allowing embargoed ships to enter Bangladesh would have created problems. Bangladesh requested sending the goods of the RNPP using other ships. Following tripartite discussions, Russia decided to unload the equipment at Haldia port.

Russian ship rejected port entry due to sanctions

After the 'Ursa Major' arrived at the Mongla Outer Anchorage in the Bay of Bengal on Dec 24, 2022, with a cargo destined for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the ship was rejected entry by Bangladeshi Government order, because it is under USA sanctions, probably because of its participation in military activities in Syria. The Russian Ambassador demanded the ship’s entry on Dec 22, but the MFA rejected his request. The ship remained at anchor as of Dec 29, with status “Waiting for order”.